Former Chornomorets and Ukraine player Kyrylo Kovalchuk for the UPL TV telegram channel - about the decisive match of our main team against Italy in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Kirill Kovalchuk- We hope to win, because it's a long way to go, to be in second position or share it with the Italians, and if something goes wrong in the last round, it will be very disappointing not to get a direct ticket. It will be a big disappointment. So I really want to avoid this. But this is football. Our national team looked very good in most of the matches of this tournament, showing decent football. Despite the fact that they played all the matches away from home. So this is also a victory for us.
- What do you think of the current Italian national team?
- In their last match, we saw that North Macedonia scored twice, even though they lost. We can score too. Italy is very strong. Some say they are in a crisis, but I don't see it.
- We only need a win, while the Italians will be happy with a draw. Could this be a problem?
- I don't think the Italians will play for a draw.
- What kind of football should we expect?
- The opponent will control the ball, we will play on the counterattack. I am sure that we will not play as the first team. Much will depend on our attacking group, how well they will manage to launch counterattacks.
- Do we have a predictable line-up or are there any positions that raise questions?
- This will be Serhii Rebrov's decision, but I think the players we are all waiting for will play. There are unlikely to be any surprises.
- What can be a key factor in victory?
- The correct implementation of counterattacks, the play of our wingers. We will definitely have chances, but we will need to score.
